In culinary terms, I pretty much grew up with Jamie Oliver. My first memories of Jamie and his ‘brand’ were as a child of sixteen, when his first television show (The Naked Chef, circa 1999) appeared on Australian television screens. On first impressions, I thought he was rather young and… well, incessantly energetic. Too young to be teaching me culinary skills, anyway (I was raised on Rick Stein and no-nonsense ‘Saint‘ Delia).

However, despite his use of the word ‘pukka’ (which apparently he even finds annoying) I eventually came to like the lad from country Essex. His shaggy hair and honest approach to cooking was both warm and approachable and over time, he won both my heart and a great portion of my bookshelf.

It seems I wasn’t the only one. Fast-forward to 2016 and it would be fair to say that Jamie Oliver is a global household name. His ‘brand’ adorns everything from basil pesto to Tefal frypans but somehow he’s managed to maintain both his ‘cheeky’ demeanour and a strong sense of personal integrity.

So let’s talk about Jamie’s Ministry of Food. Since it’s inception in 2008 (in Rotherham, South Yorkshire) these community-led kitchen centres have attracted thousands of participants per year, all of whom have signed up for 7-10 weeks of practical food education, budgeting tips and Jamie’s own home-cooking shortcuts. Over the past eight years, the program has expanded to four locations across the United Kingdom and, since 2011, three centres in suburban Australia (under Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia).

That brings me to the point of today’s post: the establishment of Jamie’s cooking school in my home state of Western Australia. Since the first Australian centre was established in Ipswich, Queensland, the program has expanded to include three more fixed-location cooking centres alongside fully-equipped mobile kitchens in Queensland and, as of last week, Western Australia.

The Western Australian mobile kitchen program is a partnership between Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia, The Good Foundation and Edith Cowan University (ECU) with sponsorship through Woolworths Australia and The Good Guys. I was privileged to attend the media launch last Wednesday with a recorded message from ‘the big man himself’ (watch it below) alongside introductions from Elise Bennetts (Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia and The Good Foundation) and Professor Steve Chapman (CBE, Vice-Chancellor of ECU).

The event was held in and around the working mobile kitchen, with canapés and drinks provided by the Ministry of Food’s qualified Food Trainers. In typical Jamie style, presentation was fresh, healthy and rustic, served off simple wooden boards with warm enthusiasm.

In contrast to previously established Ministry of Food centres, the Western Australian program will operate alongside ECU’s School of Health Science (nutrition and dietetics) with internship and research opportunities for students and staff. The kitchen classroom will initially be situated at ECU’s Joondalup campus (for the next fourteen weeks) before shifting to other ECU campuses in Mount Lawley and Western Australia’s South West (additional locations to be announced).

With adequate consultation, there also plans for specific work with rural Aboriginal communities, focusing on diet-related disease and improved health outcomes.

From Tuesday 29th March 2016, the Western Australian Mobile Kitchen program is set to run two series of seven week cooking courses, comprising of one 90-minute cooking class per week. Each class can take up to 12 participants aged over 12 years (the oldest participant so far being a ’96 year old widower’ from Eastern Australia).

Program coordinator Marie Fitzpatrick states that each class will focus on using Jamie’s own recipes and techniques, with emphasis on ‘simplicity’ and ‘transferable skills to take back home’. As per other suburban centres, the Western Australian program will incorporate emphasis on specific community demographics, family budgets and entrenched ‘fears’ of cooking from scratch. Basic principles will be covered (such as ‘how to boil an egg’) using everyday, cheap ingredients (eggs, chicken, rice and tinned beans) and common kitchen implements (domestic-sized pots, ovens and kitchen prep areas). All classes aim to incorporate simple skills and food knowledge that will ’empower’ individuals and local communities.

According to comprehensive studies by Deakin University and the University of Melbourne, Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia has already made a positive impact in Eastern Australia. Participant evaluations report strong evidence of increased confidence in key skill areas required for cooking and daily food preparation, with increased cooking confidence and daily vegetable consumption (increase by 0.52 serves).

Behavioural changes were sustained for at least six months after conclusion of the cooking course, with flow-on benefits such as increased frequency of communal eating (families eating together) and reduction in takeaway meal consumption.

Pretty good for a ‘cheeky’ Chef and his team, methinks.

Now, I’ve read a fair amount of critique surrounding the Ministry of Food, most of which labels Jamie a ‘hypocrite‘ who doesn’t understand poverty. Whilst I’m the first to admit that Jamie Oliver’s cooking school can’t solve every nutritional or social problem (but heck, what can?) he’s started a practical community dialogue about cooking and general health, and that’s got to be a good thing.

Furthermore, even academics concede that Jamie’s ‘brand identity’ has in itself provided an ‘edge’ to his social projects that most other food and nutrition programs don’t have: corporate sponsorship, public accountability and actual community enthusiasm (the last point being of utmost importance). He seems genuinely committed (to the point of personal exhaustion), his manifesto rings true and his local team in Perth appear both impassioned and aware of local issues.

So that said, I’m excited to see the impact of Jamie’s Ministry of Food in Western Australian communities, families and suburban kitchens. It’ll be pukka, you’ll see.

Laura, I love Jamie Oliver and everything he is doing with his Food Revolution Campaign!! Thanks for this post! Agreed! He’s started a practical community dialogue about cooking and general health, and that’s a great thing! I feel like popular chefs in the world have such a great opportunity to help influence and help and definitely applaud what Jamie is doing!

Haha, yep – soooo much slang! The ‘luverly jubbly’ thing is another one that I remember. Still have no idea what it means! He’s great though, I’m a big fan and I’m looking forward to seeing his program roll out in Western Australia!

I am sorry I missed this event now as I haven’t had the chance to catch up with you for AGES! I haven’t had the time of day to even think about my blogging this year. This is a great write up of the event with beautiful shots as always. Hope you are well beautiful xx

It was a hard one to get to, being on a weekday and out of the city. I was just fortunate to have the day off! Would have been so lovely to see you though, definitely have been thinking of you (particularly as you sound so crazy busy right now, take care lovely!). Thanks for taking the time to write in the midst of everything. Sending you hugs xx

Aw thanks lovely Deb! Yeah, it’s pretty exciting to see the program roll-out around the country. Hope that you are going well (I just noticed the start of your new food blog, yay! Now I can follow your cooking adventures too) xx

Definitely agree. I’ve been a big fan of Jamie for a long time now and it’s exciting to see how his programs are spreading excitement about home cooking, health and nutrition, particularly for kids. It’ll be fun to see how things roll out as the classes start here in Perth! Thanks Laura xx

How exciting Laura! I would love, love to sign up for those classes (and to take a bunch of non-cooking friends along with me)!! Did you know Jamie Oliver did 2 t.v. series here, where he went into public school cafeterias and helped them cook more nutritional (but interesting) food?? We loved it. Such an interesting post… It would be fun to hear how it all goes… Happy week ahead…xo

Oh, I’m tempted to sign up myself Rhonda! The classes sound great and I would love to be able to ‘pass on’ the tips and tricks to others (as Jamie talks about in his TV series!). I did hear about the American Food Revolution series but I haven’t watched it yet. So glad that you loved the series (I’ll have to try and rent them from somewhere, I really love Jamie’s documentaries). Thanks for checking in, hope that you’re going well too lovely! Enjoy the lead up to Easter xx

Agree– it would be really interesting to get his basic ideas and be able to use/share them… And I haven’t seen his documentaries! I’ll have to track them down. Did download a show he did with a friend a while back where they had a restaurant in England and went to places in Europe to have “cook-offs” (example: cheese making in France). It was loads of fun! Glad to “check in” on all you are making and to enjoy your beautiful writing & photos. Hoping you have a warm & worshipful Easter week as well… xo

How great that you could attend the launch of such a worthwhile program. I, too, have followed Jamie since his “Naked” days and have prepared more than a few of his recipes. Never had a fail yet!. He remains one of the few “celebrity” chefs that I would do whatever necessary to see him in person — and you did! Good for you, Laura!

I definitely agree with you John, his recipes are so reliable and he just seems like an all-round nice guy. I would love to meet him (he’s supposed to be visiting for the Ministry of Food over the next year or so, I will try my darnedest to attend!). Hopefully he’ll be over to visit your hometown in the near future too. I’m actually pretty sure he’d love you and your food (have you watched any of his shows where his friend Gennaro is there? They definitely have an Italian food bromance going on, haha!). I bet Zia could give him a few tips! :)

This was so good to read, thanks for the recap! Heh, I remember finding Jamie quite irritating when his tv shows were first on tv. Then I watched the school dinners program and was blown away not only by what he was trying to do, but his sincerity. I use one of his pizza dough recipes all the time and love it enough to not bother trying others. I might not see eye to eye with him about a few things but I think he’s a genuinely nice guy.

Haha, yes I know what you mean – I found him irritating too. I’m a massive fan now though, right down to the quirky statements he makes. Definitely very sincere and his recipes work every time. I must try his pizza dough! Thanks lovely x